hardly anybody

USAGE SUMMARY

'hardly anybody' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the small amount of people who are involved in a certain activity or situation. For example: "Hardly anybody attended the meeting last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hardly anybody buys them.

The Economist

Hardly anybody does.

The New York Times - Travel

Hardly anybody carried it.

The Guardian - Books

Hardly anybody sits.

The New Yorker

Hardly anybody did, anymore.

The New Yorker

Alas, hardly anybody does.

The New York Times - Sports

Hardly anybody crossed over".

The New York Times

Hardly anybody watched it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hardly anybody drinks anymore.

The New York Times - Travel

Now hardly anybody cares.

The New York Times - Arts

"I don't trust hardly anybody.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly anybody" to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of an action or situation involving people. For instance, "Hardly anybody uses that old phone booth anymore."

Common error

Avoid using "hardly anybody" with another negative word in the same clause, as this creates a double negative and reverses your intended meaning. Instead of saying "Hardly anybody doesn't like ice cream", say "Almost everybody likes ice cream" to convey that most people enjoy it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly anybody" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a small quantity of people. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, and examples demonstrate its function to describe a small amount of people involved in an activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly anybody" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey that very few people are involved in a particular situation. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts. When writing, remember to avoid double negatives and consider alternatives like "almost no one" or "very few people" for stylistic variation. Be mindful of register and avoid using in scientific or formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nobody

A direct synonym, using 'almost' to soften 'nobody'.

scarcely anyone

Replaces "hardly" with "scarcely", maintaining the same meaning of 'almost none'.

almost no one

Uses "almost" and "no one" to convey a similar sense of rarity or infrequency.

very few people

Emphasizes the small quantity of individuals involved.

practically nobody

Replaces "hardly" with "practically", suggesting a near absence.

not many people

Directly indicates a low quantity of people.

barely anyone

Uses "barely" to indicate a minimal presence or involvement.

rarely anyone

Focuses on the infrequent nature of someone's presence or action.

hardly a soul

Employs a more figurative expression to denote the lack of people.

few individuals

More formal way of saying few people

FAQs

How can I use "hardly anybody" in a sentence?

"Hardly anybody" is used to express that very few people are doing something or are present in a situation. For example, "Hardly anybody goes to that restaurant anymore because the food is not good."

What phrases can I use instead of "hardly anybody"?

You can use alternatives like "almost no one", "very few people", or "scarcely anyone" to express a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hardly nobody"?

No, "hardly nobody" is grammatically incorrect as it creates a double negative. The correct phrase is "hardly anybody", which means almost no one.

What's the difference between "hardly anybody" and "almost everybody"?

"Hardly anybody" means very few people, while "almost everybody" means nearly all people. They have opposite meanings.